Waterloo Community Foundation

Eric and Judy Thorson have spent their lives investing in the Waterloo community, both personally and professionally.

Their story together began when they met as young adults while Judy was on dialysis waiting for a kidney transplant and Eric had already received a successful kidney transplant. With encouragement from dialysis nurses and a final push from Judy’s roommate, they connected when Judy returned to Waterloo after her successful transplant. They quickly became friends and were dating within six months. Today, Eric and Judy have been married for 39 years and both received kidney transplants again in 2022.

Eric is a lifelong Waterloo resident. After graduating from West High School and Iowa State University, he joined the City of Waterloo Engineering Department as a Project Engineer and eventually became the Waterloo City Engineer. Eric served as the longest running Waterloo City Department Head until his retirement in 2018.

Judy moved to Waterloo from Cresco, Iowa after graduating from Notre Dame High School to attend Hawkeye Institute of Technology, now known as Hawkeye Community College. Judy has now lived in Waterloo longer than her hometown of Cresco. She spent most of her career in sales in the professional portrait photography business. However, later in life she made a change in her career and worked for Edward Jones until her retirement. Throughout her career and diverse volunteer work, she has grown deeply connected to the community.

Judy said, “Being married to Eric has rubbed off on me. I’m a transplant to Waterloo and joining the UpDowntowners Board shortly after marrying Eric changed my perspective. I want to leave Waterloo better than I found it.”

Their shared commitment to Waterloo led them to establish the Eric and Judy Thorson Fund, an endowed Donor Advised Fund at the Waterloo Community Foundation. This Fund allows them to recommend grants to the nonprofits they care about while ensuring long-term support for their community. They are passionate about providing food assistance but also personally enjoy the arts and wish to support it. Since both Judy and Eric have a complex health history, they are thankful for the care they have received in Waterloo and hope to support these needs as well.

Eric and Judy have also included their fund in their estate plans, joining our Legacy Society and ensuring their love for Waterloo extends beyond their lifetime.

By establishing a Fund at the Waterloo Community Foundation, you can support your favorite nonprofits, respond to emerging needs, and create a lasting legacy that strengthens Waterloo for generations to come. Let us know if you are ready to take the next step toward establishing a Donor Advised Fund. We look forward to working with you!

It takes all of us to inspire growth and opportunity in Waterloo. Thank you for investing in the city we love!

Learn more about Donor Advised Funds at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/fund-types/ -Advised-Fund

Thank you for joining us for Windows on Waterloo this week!

This conversation highlights Waterloo CourtWorks, a new 100,000-square-foot hardwood court sports facility coming to downtown Waterloo and expected to open in 2027. Presented by Jim Miller, Vice President of Waterloo Development Corp, and Ashley Johnson, Executive Director of the Cedar Valley Sports Commission, the webinar provides an overview of the project, its role in supporting downtown redevelopment, and how sports tourism is expected to help drive economic activity throughout the community.

If you missed this presentation, a recording can be found here:

Windows on Waterloo- Waterloo CourtWorks Learn more about Waterloo CourtWorks, a new 100,000-square-foot hardwood court sports facility coming to downtown Waterloo and expected to open in early 2027...

2025 was a transformational year for the Waterloo Community Foundation!

Together, we surpassed our reach goal of $10 million and closed the year with $11.4 million in assets across 128 Funds. This milestone reflects the strength of our donors, both new and returning, that continue to grow our capacity to serve Waterloo.

This significant asset growth in 2025 was driven by an increase in annual donations, including several especially generous contributions.

One of these gifts came from the estate of Mary K. Williams, whose generosity will leave a lasting impact on Waterloo for years to come. Her gift established the Mary K. Williams Fund, a Donor Advised Fund supporting local nonprofits, and the Mary K. Williams Scholarship Fund, an endowed scholarship that will help students pursue post-secondary education. You can learn more about this gift on our website at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/legacy-of-educator-mary-k-williams-to-benefit-waterloo-students-and-community/.

Thank you for your trust, your generosity, and your commitment to building lasting resources for our community!